Pakistan says Indian news channel 'forged' interview of Pak official

Pakistan, on 7 October, claimed that a leading Indian channel aired a "forged" interview of a Pakistani official in which he allegedly confirmed India's surgical strikes on terror launch pads across the border.

Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs alleged that CNN News18 has aired a "forged" interview of a police officer, Ghulam Akbar, from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in which he allegedly confirmed India's surgical strikes.

"The reporter impersonated himself as Inspector General Police Punjab," the Ministry said in a statement. "Akbar has categorically denied having spoken over phone and that it is not even his voice on the recording run by the said Indian TV channel," the Ministry said.

Pakistan strongly denounces Indian media's "despicable" act of fraud of airing of a fake programme aimed at twisting and "fabricating stories for domestic political consumption", the Ministry said.

"This is a clear indication that certain quarters in India are desperate to prove Indian false claim of surgical strike by 'hook or by crook', it said.

"We hope that CNN would take up the matter very seriously with the affiliate Indian TV channel and initiate action against the channel, as not doing so will be regarded as directly owning to this unethical and manipulative act. We reserve the right to take necessary legal action against the said TV channel," the statement said.

The news report of CNN News18 said that Akbar has admitted that surgical strikes did happen.

Pakistan had rejected as "false" and "concocted" the Indian claim of surgical strikes within Pakistani territory following the Uri terror attack that killed 19 Indian soldiers last month.